Joe Nachef, BEng ’04 (Computer Engineering)

A few months after earning his computer engineering degree in 2004, Joe Nachef joined PointClickCare as a software developer.

Fast forward 18 years and he’s still with the company. Now, as senior engineering manager, his primary responsibility is building teams capable of delivering healthcare-focused commercial software.

In the fast moving and rapidly evolving world of software development, he recognizes that it’s a rarity to spend a career in one location.

“One of the main reasons why I’ve opted to stay for an extended period is because of the unique opportunity to experience the evolution and growth of a great Canadian unicorn,” he says.

“Contributing to the growing success of the company, delivering software that improves the lives of the elderly and mentoring a new generation of engineers has been really satisfying.”

While he says he expected to spend his career coding, mentoring from supportive leaders gave him opportunities to grow his responsibilities. Nachef adds that relationships and teamwork are a fundamental part of building software.

“The best part of the field is the opportunity to consistently tackle new problems with smart teammates,” he says.

In his spare time, Nachef works with a team of volunteers that run a Bible study group with local inmates – a service he describes as “eternally rewarding to both volunteers and inmates.”

He urges students to take advantage of internships and look for opportunities to work at companies that ship commercial software, to hone skills in building scalable solutions.

“Don’t shy away from pet projects, you will learn a lot,” he adds. “If you’re fixated on solving complex problems, you will love a career in software development.”

He urges students to take advantages of internship programs to gain experience and recognize areas of interest.